The U.S. Army has suspended Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez, commander of Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, after a glaring omission was discovered on the base’s chain-of-command wall—no photos of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, or Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were displayed where they were supposed to be.
The missing portraits triggered a swift investigation and rapid correction. The Department of Defense’s Rapid Response Team posted an updated image of the wall with all required leadership portraits in place, accompanied by the statement:
“WE FIXED IT! Also, an investigation has begun to figure out exactly what happened.”
While the Army Reserve Command insists that Baez Ramirez’s suspension is not tied to any misconduct, the timing leaves little doubt that the incident played a decisive role. No additional details have been released, and the matter remains under formal review.
Baez Ramirez took over as garrison commander in July 2024, following a career in Army Intelligence and Reserve leadership roles. Her removal comes amid a wave of similar shakeups across the Department of Defense in recent weeks.
The Fort McCoy incident is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reassert chain-of-command protocol and tighten military discipline under its civilian leadership. Just weeks prior, Col. Susannah Meyers was relieved of her post as commander of Pituffik Space Force Base in Greenland after she openly criticized Vice President Vance’s remarks during a visit, stating they didn’t represent the base’s views. The Space Force cited “loss of confidence in her ability to lead” and emphasized the expectation of nonpartisan military conduct.
Simultaneously, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has faced internal disruption. Last week, he fired four aides following a probe into leaks concerning a second Signal chat involving details of military operations in Yemen. The chat reportedly included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. Hegseth has dismissed the reports as media-driven hit pieces by “disgruntled employees.”
The Fort McCoy situation has become a flashpoint in the Trump administration’s campaign to reinforce civilian control over the military—a constitutional principle that has become increasingly politicized. For Hegseth and his allies, the incident was more than an oversight—it was a symbolic failure to acknowledge legitimate authority.
In a repost on X, Hegseth did not hide his reaction:
“Commander of Fort McCoy, whose base chain-of-command board was missing photos of Trump, Vance and Hegseth, has been SUSPENDED.”
The message is unmistakable: chain of command is not optional, and acts that undermine the visibility or legitimacy of that chain—whether intentional or not—will have consequences.
